RICHMOND, Va. -- University of Delaware junior outside hitter Katie Hillman was named Preseason All-Colonial Athletic Association Volleyball Honorable Mention as the league announced its preseason all-conference squad on Thursday.

Hillman, a native of Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Cardinal Gibbons HS), was one of four Blue Hens to start all 28 matches and appear in all 111 sets a year ago, when she led the team and ranked fifth in the CAA with 3.15 kills per set. She posted 350 kills during the season, and also was sixth in the conference by averaging 3.64 points per set.

Hillman recorded a career-high 28 kills during the five-set win over UMBC last September, the sixth most in a match in school history, and went on to earn Loyola Greyhound Challenge MVP honors the following day. She reached double figure kills in 22 of the final 26 matches of the year, and also was second on the squad with 202 digs while recording eight double-doubles.

Hillman, the Blue Hens’ active leader with 705 career kills, has also added 320 digs and 136 blocks during her first two seasons in Newark.

Kelsie Wills of Hofstra was named the CAA Preseason Player of the Year and was joined on the All-CAA Team by Jamie Bredahl of Northeastern, Lizzy Briones of James Madison, Janey Goodman of James Madison, Meredith Peacock of UNCW, Natalie Skiba of Northeastern, and Sloane White of College of Charleston. Hillman was named honorable mention along with Cara Howley of College of Charleston, Saitaua Iosia of Towson, Nicole Lott of UNCW, and Kallie McKown of College of Charleston.

Hillman and the Blue Hens kick off their 2014 campaign on Friday, Aug. 29 when they host Albany at 7 p.m. on the first day of the UD Courtyard by Marriott Invitational.